Illegal fireworks call triggers gunfire, death of Kansas deputy and suspect

• A Kansas sheriff’s deputy and a suspect died in an exchange of gunfire late June 27.
• The deputy was attempting to arrest the suspect in connection with allegedly using illegal fireworks.
• The suspect fired first, striking the deputy, who returned fire.

An exchange of gunfire erupted late June 27 as a north-central Kansas sheriff’s deputy tried to handcuff a man suspected of using illegal fireworks. Both were fatally shot.

Killed were Phillips County Deputy Brandon Gaede, 30, and Phillipsburg resident Kolton Griffith, 27, said a news release posted on the website of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.

That office was investigating at the request of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Phillips County is located just south of the Kansas/Nebraska border. Phillipsburg has a population of 2,337, according to 2020 census figures.

Griffith fired first, news release said

Gaede responded to Griffith’s home after the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office received a report about 9:30 p.m. that illegal, non-consumer grade fireworks were being detonated there, the news release said.

Gaede determined Griffith had broken the law, the release said.

“As the deputy attempted to place Griffith in handcuffs, a struggle broke out,” it said. “Griffith pulled a concealed handgun and opened fire on the deputy. Despite being struck by gunfire, the deputy returned fire and hit Griffith multiple times.”

Griffith died at the scene. Gaede was taken to a Phillipsburg hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 10:24 p.m., the news release said.

Circumstances involved remained under investigation.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.